Anti-Elastin Antibodies and Elastin Turnover in Normal Pregnancy and Recurrent Pregnancy Loss |
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Authors: | Emiliana Konova Tania Aleksovska Milena Atanasova Miglena Georgieva Katia Todorova Tzvetan Lukanov Yehuda Shoenfeld |
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Affiliation: | Center for Reproductive Health, Medical University of Pleven, Pleven, Bulgaria;; Department of Pathological Physiology and Biology, Medical University of Pleven, Pleven, Bulgaria;; Medical Center "Clinical Institute for Reproductive Medicine", Pleven, Bulgaria;; University Hospital "Maichin Dom", Sofia, Bulgaria;; Sheba Medical Center, Department of Internal Medicine B', The Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Tel Hashomer, Israel;; Incumbent of the Laura Schwarz-Kipp Chair for Research of Autoimmune Diseases, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel |
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Abstract: | Problem The aim of this study was to investigate elastin turnover and autoimmunity in patients with a history of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) and during normal pregnancy. Method of study Anti-α-elastin and anti-tropoelastin IgG and IgM antibodies were measured by a home-made ELISA in serum samples of 60 medically and obstetrically normal pregnant women, classified to three trimester groups, 18 female patients with RPL and 18 healthy non-pregnant women with a history of successful pregnancies. One way analyses of variance and Least Significant Difference method were used for a statistical analysis. Results Anti-α-elastin IgG autoantibodies were significantly decreased in the third trimester pregnant women. IgM anti-α-elastin autoantibodies were significantly decreased in all pregnancy groups compared with the controls. Synthesis/degradation ratio of elastin was significantly increased in the third trimester pregnancy group, suggesting decreased elastin degradation during this period of pregnancy. Comparing the RPL patients with the healthy non-pregnant controls showed a significantly increased anti-α-elastin IgG antibody and significantly decreased synthesis/degradation ratio in the patient's group, suggesting increased elastin degradation in RPL. Conclusion Elastin degradation is decreased during normal pregnancy. Increased anti-elastin IgG antibodies may contribute to the pathogenesis of pregnancy losses. |
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Keywords: | Anti-tropoelastin antibody α-elastin ELISA synthesis/degradation ratio tropoelastin |
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